Learn how to identify the best elements of a
scene and frame professional-level images
Master
R
egardless of your choice of
exposure, the camera type you use
or the lighting in your image, the
composition of a photograph is
the most influential aspect on its success.
Looking back at some of photography’s most
iconic shots, there are those that are clearly
lacking in absolute sharpness, a balanced
exposure and ideal lighting, yet they leave a
lasting impression on the viewer – despite
being far from technically perfect. This is
due to the photographer’s inspired choice
of framing, which presents the subject in
an engaging way and conveys a clear and
captivating story.
Composition controls what the viewer
sees – it defines the parameters within
which visual information is disseminated in
the frame by clearly telling your audience
what they should be looking at. The
image’s composition has the power to
alter the viewer’s perception of the subjectby showing, hiding or restructuring the
environment and context.
While this provides us with boundless
opportunities to be creative and convey a
visual message that adheres to our personal
style and character, this capacity to influence
a viewer’s emotions can have adverse effects
if we are not mindful of all of our subject
placement and frame division choices. All
facets of a photograph’s structure must
be intentional and considered, so that the
subsequent effects are predictable and serve
to maintain audience engagement.
By studying the impact of our
compositional decisions we can be confident
that our message is being effectively
communicated and that our work will attract
repeat views. Here we’ll explore the best
ways to structure exciting compositions in
all of the main photographic areas, to enable
you to produce dramatic images of any
subject and any environment.composition
TECHNIQUES
Learnhowto identify the best elements of a
sceneandframe professional-level images
Master
R
egardlessofyour choice of
exposure,thecamera type you use
orthelighting in your image, the
compositionof a photograph is
themostinfluentialaspect on its success.
Lookingbackatsome of photography’s most
iconicshots,thereare those that are clearly
lackinginabsolutesharpness, a balanced
exposureandideallighting, yet they leave a
lastingimpressionon the viewer – despite
beingfarfromtechnically perfect. This is
duetothephotographer’s inspired choice
offraming,whichpresents the subject in
anengagingwayandconveys a clear and
captivatingstory.
Compositioncontrols what the viewer
sees– it definestheparameters within
whichvisualinformation is disseminated in
theframebyclearlytelling your audience
whattheyshouldbelooking at. The
image’scompositionhas the power to
altertheviewer’sperception of the subjectby showing, hiding or restructuring the
environment and context.
While this provides us with boundless
opportunities to be creative and convey a
visual message that adheres to our personal
style and character, this capacity to influence
a viewer’s emotions can have adverse effects
if we are not mindful of all of our subject
placement and frame division choices. All
facets of a photograph’s structure must
be intentional and considered, so that the
subsequent effects are predictable and serve
to maintain audience engagement.
By studying the impact of our
compositional decisions we can be confident
that our message is being effectively
communicated and that our work will attract
repeat views. Here we’ll explore the best
ways to structure exciting compositions in
all of the main photographic areas, to enable
you to produce dramatic images of any
subject and any environment.composition
TECHNIQUES